Collapsible container



March 27, 1956 F o BUDNICK 2,739,41Q

COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Filed Oct. 26, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR: FRANK 0. BUDNIC'K, DECEASED, by Jgf NEZTE BUDNICIQAMIWZX 1977'0ENEX March 1956 F. o. BUDNICK COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 26, 1953 IN VEN TOR: FRANKU. BUDNTUK DECE lS by azg nwm' swmcmumsmrzwz United States Paten COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Frank 0. Budnick, deceased, late of Chicago, Ill., by Jeanette Budnick, administratrix, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Joseph P. Leonetti, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 26, 1953, Serial No. 388,236

7 Claims. (Cl. 43-55) This invention relates to collapsible containers.

This invention relates more particularly to a plastic fabric container of the type which may be used as a minnow pail or for similar purposes, the construction including as an inherent quality a buoyancy in the container so that even though it is filled or partially filled with a liquid or other contents, it will float in a partially submerged position in water but will not sink.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible container of the type described for minnows or similar bait used by fishermen, capable of being complete ly collapsed when not in use so that it can be easily carried in a tackle box or other receptacle, and yet capable of being extended and used as a bucket which will float in water even though partially submerged.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container of this type provided with a cover which incorporates the features that permit the container to float, the cover also effectively closing the top of the container, yet so arranged that the hand may be extended through the cover when desired to remove a minnow or other bait.

Other objects and advantages will become more apparent from the following description wherein reference is had to the accompanying drawings, upon which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the invention, with a portion thereof being broken into section to more clearly show other parts of the same;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view showing the same in a generally collapsed condition.

In the embodiment of the invention which has been chosen to illustrate and describe the same, the container may comprise a generally cylindrical or tubular body which may be formed of a single sheet of plastic fabric formed around a mandrel with the edges of the same fused together to form a single continuous tubular body. It is preferred to form a flat upper edge 12 adjacent the top open end 14 of the same and a similar flat edge 16 adjacent the lower open end 18. It is also preferred to form the body with a plurality of inwardly and outwardly directed portions 20 and 22 to assist in collapsing the same when not in use. The bottom end of the tubular body 10 may be closed by welding or fusing to the edge 16 the peripheral edge of a bottom disc or wall 24.

The cover or top wall of the container may be formed from a pair of similar plastic fabric sheets 26 and 28, preformed at 34 about their peripheries with grooves of semi-circular cross-section, and welded together at their peripheral edges 30 and again at a concentric circle 32 to form a circular chamber 34 filled with air. Each of the sheets 26 and 28 is formed with crossing radial slots 36 and 38 so that when the sheets are welded together the peripheral edges 40 and 42 of the slots form a sealed edge between the two sheets and still permit the space 46 and 48 to remain between the edges of the slots. In the quadrant shaped leaves which are formed with this construction, arcuate shaped air pockets 50 are formed by the circular welds or fuses 52 between the upper and lower sheets, the sheets being prefonned with the partial pockets so that when the same are fused together air is trapped in the pockets 50.

With the construction thus provided the cover of the container has suflicient buoyancy so that even though the container is partially filled with liquid or other substance, it will float in water.

A handle 56 may be provided by welding or fusing a strip of plastic fabric to opposite edges of the peripheral edge 30 of the cover.

With this construction, when it is desired to place minnows into or remove them from the container 10, the users hand may be extended down through the slots 46 and 48, the corners of the quadrant shaped sectors of the cover being easily flexed downwardly throughout the length of the slots, so that it is a simple matter to place minnows into or remove them from the container, and when the hand is removed the cover sections will assume their natural position as shown in Fig. 1.

From the above and foregoing description it can be seen that there has been provided a minnow bucket or other collapsible container formed from a plastic fabric I which is so constructed that when not in use it can be easily collapsed, as shown in Fig. 3, and when in use can be extended to hold water and live bait or other materials. Entry into or egress from the container is easily made by flexing one or more of the quadrant shaped sectors of the cover to place material in the container or to remove the same.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made in the exact details shown and it is not wished to be limited in any particular; rather what is desired to be secured and protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A collapsible buoyant container constructed of a plastic fabric and comprising a collapsible cylindrical body portion, a bottom wall at the lower end of said body portion and a cover for the body portion, said cover formed from two disc-like sheets of plastic material preformed to have a peripheral air-filled tube therein, and

said cover having crossing radial slots therein to permit entry into or egress from said container.

2. A collapsiblebuoyant container constructed of a plastic fabric and comprising a collapsible cylindrical body portion having its wall arranged with alternate inwardly and outwardly directed wall portions to permit easy collapsing of the same, a bottom wall at the lower end of said body portion and a cover for the body portion, said cover formed from two disc-like sheets of plastic material preformed to have a peripheral air-filled tube therein, and said cover having crossing radial slots therein to permit entry into or egress from said container.

3. A collapsible buoyant container constructed of a plastic fabric and comprising a collapsible cylindrical body portion having its wall arranged with alternate inwardly and outwardly directed wall portions to permit easy collapsing of the same, a bottom wall at the lower end of said body portion and a cover for the body portion, said cover formed from two disc-like sheets of plastic material preformed to have a peripheral air-filled tube there in; and said cover being slotted to define a group of leaves which are yieldable for entry into or egress from said container.

4. A collapsible buoyant container constructed of a plastic fabric and comprising a collapsible accordionpleated cylindrical body portion to permit easy collapsing of the same, a bottom wall at the lower end of said body portion and a cover for the body portion, said cover 3 formed from two disc-like sheets of plastic material preformed-to have a peripheral air-filled tube therein, and said cover having crossing radial slots therein to permit entry into or egress from said container, and also having air-filled'pockets onall sides of said'radialslots.

5. A collapsible buoyantrninnow container constructed of plastic =fabric including a tubular body, 'di'sc shaped top and bottom walls connected to the ends of sai'dfbody, said top wall formed of tWQdiSc-shaped members having preformed grooves of semi-circular cross-section about their peripheries, the two disc-shaped members when fused together forming a peripheral air-filled tube, and said top 'wall having a- -central opening formed by 'a pair of radially directed crossing 'slots, and a handle attached to said top wall.

'6. Acollapsible buoyant minnow container constructed of plastic fabric including a tubular body, disc shaped top and bottom walls connected to the ends of said body, said top wall formed 'oftwo disc-shaped members having preformed complementary annular channels about their peripheries, such channels when the two disc-shaped members are fused together forming a peripheral air-filled 4 g a, tube, and said top wall having a central opening formed by a pair-of radially directed crossing slots, and a handle attached to said top wall.

7. A collapsible buoyant minnow container constructed of plastic fabric including a tubular accordion-pleated body, disc shaped top and bottom walls connected to the ends of said body, said top wallformed of two disc shaped members having preformed grooves of semi-circular crosssection about their peripheries, the two disc-shaped members when fused together forming a peripheral air-filled tube, and said top wall having a central opening formed by a pair of radially directed crossing. slots, and .a handle attached to .said vtop wall, said radially directed crossing slots forming flexible leaves in said top wall, and each of said leaves havingasealed airpocket therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,092,772 Nadelson Sept. 14, 1937 2,241,314 Mahler Mayifi, '194'1 2,4309% Bradley Nov. 18, 194T 

